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| Bacchus Breaks |
| Charles Skipwith - 24/11/2005 |
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Weekend breaks in the heart of the vineyards. |
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We give you an opportunity to enjoy and experience the wine-making process, in an informal atmosphere coupling fine wines, foods and comfort by means of short week-end breaks in the vineyards. |
I am leaving the 2005 schedule on the site so that you can get an idea of how we operate this particular aspect of our repertoire of goodies. In 2006 vineyards and dates may change. However, I’ll try to maintain the overall cost of the long weekends. Early booking is strongly recommended as they are truly very popular. The intention is not to troop you around the Good and the Great of the chateaux; but, more to introduce you to the down-to-earth, genuine, grass roots of the business. Many fine crus come from these generations of artisan growers and, rather than be marched solemnly around some world-famous cellars and plied with facts and figures by a semi-interested Maitre de Chai, it would be much more beneficial to you to have an insight into the everyday aspects of wine.
ITINERARY
On Friday afternoon, having collected you from Bergerac airport, we shall meet a local grower where the viticultural and vinification processes will be uncovered, including a visit to a local wine co-operative to see how generic wines are produced. This knowledge, will provide a good foundation in understanding the process of making a good wine over the next two and a half days. Then back home for a sumptuous 4 course dinner, with a guest-grower there to answer any questions. Of course, we will marry the meal with his wines.
On Saturday morning, following a visit to the colourful market of La Réole on the banks of the Garonne, we shall tour the ‘vin doux’ areas of Barsac, Loupiac, St Croix du Mont and, of course, Sauternes. Lunch will be a vineyard picnic before continuing our ‘wine-trek’ in the afternoon. Back to base for a sun downer round the pool, prior to dinner at a restaurant in the beautiful medieval town of Sainte Macaire, close to Toulouse Lautrec’s Chateau Malromé at Verdelais.
After a traditional Sunday morning pick-me-up of fresh Marennes oysters and crémant wine in the the ‘place’ of our local bastide town of Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, we continue on to Saint Emilion. A bistro lunch is followed by an informative vineyard trip in a road-train through this celebrated wine region, we will visit the gallo-romain cellars of the Cloître des Cordeliers. Here they produce a Crémant à la Méthode Traditionelle, which will be tasted in the cloister, with the obligatory plate of local macaroons. Afterwards, we shall visit other cellars and chateaux in the area before returning to base. At supper we will be joined by another local vigneron.
On Monday morning we meander through the vineyards of Duras, then Montravel near St. Foy-la-Grande, then we stop for a vineyard picnic on our way to Saussignac and Monbazillac prior to the return flight to the UK.
* Bacchus Break dates : Sept 16 – 19 , .Sept 23 – 26 , Sept 30 – Oct 3, Oct 7 – 11, Oct 14 - 17
* Cost per person sharing a double/twin room: £325.00 payable by cheque, includes accommodation, all meals at Le Cros, 2 vineyard picnics, bistro & restaurant meals, airport pick up and transport within the weekend. If menu variations in restaurants are selected, there may be a supplement. Not included: Flights and travel insurance
* Each tour requires six guests. If numbers drop below six the tour will be cancelled & deposits returned.
* Accommodation: All rooms come with own bathrooms (please see website below for more details)
* Deposits. To secure your booking you should send a sterling cheque for £200.00 per person. This will be returned to you at the end of your visit against final settlement in euro cash.
* Cancellation. Deposits will only be refunded on cancellations made 21 days from the date your booking commences.
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